• Home
  • Blog
  • Info By Topic
    • Disney Armed Forces Salute
      • Disney Armed Forces Salute Full Details
      • Disney Armed Forces Salute FAQ
      • FAQ Friday Blog Posts – Your Most Asked Questions
    • Military Discounted Tickets
      • Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets
      • Regular Military Discounted Disney Tickets
      • Military Discounted Ticket Overview
      • Buy Military Discounted Disney Tickets Long Distance
    • Resort Hotel Information and Military Discounts
      • Resort Hotel Overview
      • Shades of Green – WDW’s Military Resort
      • Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts
      • The Walt Disney World Resorts
      • The Disneyland Hotels
    • Walt Disney World Theme Parks
    • Disneyland Theme Parks
    • Dining Information and Military Discounts Overview
      • Dining at WDW for Military Families
    • Transportation Information and Military Discounts Overview
    • Disney Technology Information
      • Disney Technology Overview
      • PhotoPass and MemoryMaker Military Discount
      • Genie & Genie+ Service
      • Linking Disney Military Tickets and FastPass Plus Reservations
    • Outside the Parks Information and Military Discounts
    • Resources and Links for You
  • Info By Location
    • Walt Disney World
      • Walt Disney World Theme Parks
    • Disneyland Resort
      • Disneyland Theme Parks
    • Universal Studios
    • SeaWorld – Busch Gardens
    • Resources and Links for You
  • Shades of Green
    • Shades of Green Overview
    • Shades of Green Prices
      • Shades of Green Eligibility
      • Shades of Green Regular Prices
      • Shades of Green Discounts
      • Shades Of Green – Disney Price Comparison
    • Shades of Green Guest Rooms
      • Shades of Green Standard Rooms
      • Shades of Green Poolside Rooms
      • Shades of Green – Disney Value Resort Comparison
      • Shades of Green – Disney Moderate Resort Comparison
      • Shades of Green – Disney Deluxe Resort Comparison
    • Shades of Green Ticket Office
      • Shades of Green Attraction Ticket Sales Office
      • Shades of Green – Preorder Tickets
    • Shades of Green AAFES Store
    • Shades of Green Dining Overview
    • Shades of Green Transportation Overview
    • Shades of Green Pools
  • Get a Disney Quote
  • About MDT
    • Our About Page
    • Our Team
    • Roll Call (Featured In)
    • Support MDT
    • Contact
    • Brands & Advertisers
    • Bloggers/Writers
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Support Military Disney Tips
  • Updates
    • Newsletter
    • Facebook

Military Disney Tips Blog

By Military for Military

Ears of Experience Military Disney Vacation Experts
Home » Blog Posts » The American Adventure at Epcot’s World Showcase

The American Adventure at Epcot’s World Showcase

By Steve 4 Comments

Welcome to another installment of my series Patriotic Disney in which I’ll be discussing the many facets of Walt Disney’s patriotism and how it permeates his work and legacy.

Many of the lands and attractions in Disney’s theme Parks reveal his patriotism, his love of the American way of life and belief in the entrepreneurial spirit.

One of my very favorite Walt Disney quotes is “If you can dream it, you can do it.”

Lands like Main Street USA, Liberty Square, and Frontierland bring us back to the formative years of our country. Attractions like the Hall of Presidents and the American Adventure speak to what sets America apart.

Epcot's American Adventure

Epcot’s American Adventure

The American Adventure is located at the very back of Epcot’s World Showcase, as you enter World Showcase you can see the pavilion directly across the lagoon.

The American Adventure Pavilion is a massive structure in order to house the large theater and show mechanisms. The building is five stories tall, but through Disney’s use of forced perspective it’s made to appear only three stories tall.

Show times for the roughly 30 minute show are posted to the side of the door as you enter the Colonial-style structure which was inspired by historic American structures such as: Independence Hall, Boston’s Old State House, Monticello and Colonial Williamsburg.

The first floor is large and open and serves as the waiting area. On the walls you’ll find beautiful paintings depicting scenes from the history of America, as well as quotations from famous Americans.

Off to one side is the American Heritage Gallery, which features over 40 special artifacts on loan to Epcot. The exhibit includes items that belonged to many famous Americans such as: Abe Lincoln, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, Senator Daniel Inouye, Astronaut Gus Grissom, and many more.

While waiting for the next showing you’ll be entertained by the Voices of Liberty, a group of 10 singers dressed in colonial costumes that sing patriotic and folk songs in harmonized a capella.

The Voices of Liberty perform prior to the American Adventure show.

Once it’s time for the show you’ll take escalators through the Hall of Flags to the second floor theatre entrance. In this area hang 44 flags that have flown over the United States through its history. Including Revolutionary War flags, Colonial flags, and foreign flags that flew prior to the founding of the United States.

You’ll enter the huge theater from the right. Take your time finding a row to enter even though as in Disney fashion the castmember will be directing you to “Select a row and proceed all the way to the end, making room for those behind you.”

Your goal is to enter a row mid stream and wind up near the center.

As is standard practice in all Disney theatre attractions, the cast will ask you to select a row and move all the way to the end, and not plopping down in the middle of the row. Do what they say, this is so others do not have to try to get by you to fill the empty seats past you as the theatre fills. If you want to sit in the middle of a row, wait to the side for a bit and allow one to fill about half way before you enter it.

Flanking the 150 foot wide screen on the side walls are twelve statues representing the “Spirits of America.” They are the Spirits of Individualism, Innovation, Tomorrow, Independence, Compassion, Discovery, Freedom, Heritage, Pioneering, Knowledge, Self-Reliance, and Adventure. Take some time on the way out to check them out.

Walt is know for many innovations in so many different areas, but one of the biggest was the development of the audio-animatronics used in his theme parks. Rides and shows like Pirates of the Caribbean, the Jungle Cruise, and the Carousel of Progress just wouldn’t be the same without these moving talking figures.

The American Adventure attraction takes audio-animatronics to the next level, coordinating them with scenes and footage, which takes place on the 72-foot wide projection behind them.

The American Adventure at Epcot - copyright Disney

The show in narrated by the figures of Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain, each chosen to represent their century of American progress.

The pair takes us through various scenes in the development of America. The scenes are presented both in still images, animations, movies, and by 35 audio-animatronic figures.

Scenes include: the Mayflower and the Pilgrims; the Boston Tea Party; the writing of the Declaration of Independence; Valley Forge and the Revolutionary War; slavery and the Civil War; the suffering of Native Americans; the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition; the founding of Yosemite National Park; and both World Wars.

The finale is a moving video accompanied by the attraction’s theme song “Golden Dreams” depicting more recent events. The backdrop screen expands to the full 150-foot wide span during the finale.

The finale of Disney World’s the American Adventure is a video set to music.

The American Adventure at Epcot - copyright Disney

While not a “thrill ride” this attraction is one of my favorites. As a former member of our Nation’s Armed Forces it never fails to move me. I highly recommend it!

Note: there are those who enjoy this attraction for the simple joy of 30 minutes off their feet in a dim air-conditioned room…

Are you a fan the American Adventure? Is it for the patriotic show or the opportunity to bob your head during a long day at Disney?

Click here to read more of my Patriotic Disney posts

This MDT Post By: Steve Bell

Steve is the the Military Disney Tips Founder. He a retired U.S. Military Member who's been touring the Disney Parks since 1971! Steve's mission is to help military families with their Disney vacations in every way. Check out Steve's Bio.

Subscribe to Steve's email newsletter to get website updates and news by clicking this link.

 

Planning a Disney Trip? Want to get the best military discounts that are available? Feeling a little confused? See Our Great Disney Discount and Planning Info:
  • Disney Veteran & Military Discount Eligibility Guide
  • The Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide 
  • Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist 
  • Disney Military Tickets – Your Start to Finish Guide
Learn about the Disney Armed Forces Salute the best military discount that there is for Disney. See our Topic Overview Pages:
  • Resorts/Hotel Overview Page
  • Dining Overview Page
  • Transportation Overview Page
  • Technology Overview Page
  • Shades of Green, WDW’s Military Only Resort

Military Disney Tips' Recommended Disney Travel Agent

Save on your Disney Vacation With Ears of Experience

Ears of Experience Disney Only Travel Agency. Military family owned and operated! They know all the ins and outs of Disney military discounts!

 
   


Filed Under: Patriotic Disney Tagged With: EPCOT, Patriotic Disney, Walt Disney World, World Showcase

Comments

  1. Michael Randall says

    26 March 2015 at 11:20

    Love this experience every visit. It sends chills up and down my spine and brings a tear to my eye.

    Reply
    • Steve says

      26 March 2015 at 21:02

      Me too, one of my favorites.

      Reply
  2. Andrew says

    20 January 2021 at 13:39

    Great post – I love the Voices of Liberty and The American Adventure attraction.

    By the way, Walt Disney never said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” That was written by Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald for the Horizons attraction (now defunct).

    Reply
    • Steve says

      21 January 2021 at 10:19

      Thanks Andrew. Can’t wait till they come back to their home! BFor now thay are across the promenade in the American Gardens Theatre singing Disney movie songs.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

How Military Disney Tips Came To Serve the U.S. Military Community
Ears of Experience - A Fee Free Disney Travel Agent

Ears of Experience is a travel booking company specializing in Disney vacations. Military family owned and operated! They know all the ins and outs of Disney military discounts!

Military Discounts for You

  • Military Discounted Scooters/ECVs
  • Military Discouned Stroller Rentals

Shop Amazon  |  Shop the Disney Store
Subscribe to the Newsletter | Contact Me | Advertise | Webmasters/Bloggers
About Military Disney Tips | Resources and Links | Roll Call (Featured in)
If you found this site helpful, please consider supporting Military Disney Tips

Marketing Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Copyright Statement

Why are there ads on this site?
© Copyright 2007-2023 Military Disney Tips is a Magic Shell Media LLC Website

Other helpful MSM sites: Universal Orlando for Military & Universal Orlando Guide

U.S Military Veteran Owned Business

FTC Disclosure of Material Connection: In order for us to maintain this website, some of the links in the post above may be affiliate links.
Regardless, we only recommend products or services we use personally and/or believe will add value to our readers.
Military Disney Tips is not affiliated with, authorized or endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with: The Walt Disney Company, Disney Enterprises, Inc. or any of their affiliates, nor the Shades of Green Resort, NBC Universal, Universal Orlando Resort, or the Armed Forces Vacation Club.
Buy American!

No AI Allowed!